Sponsors (4)
The bill expands choice for eligible veterans to enroll in TRICARE Select and standardizes cost-sharing, but does so by moving some veterans out of VA care and shifting costs and administrative burdens between VA and DoD, creating trade-offs in access, family coverage, and VA resource allocation.
Veterans with service-connected disabilities can enroll in TRICARE Select during open enrollment, giving them a new health plan choice beyond VA care.
Veterans and other patients gain more predictable cost-sharing because enrollment and cost-sharing are standardized under 10 U.S.C. §1075(d)(1), reducing financial uncertainty.
Taxpayers and veterans benefit from a required memorandum of understanding (MOU) for VA to reimburse DoD, which clarifies which agency pays and helps prevent unfunded or unclear cost-shifting.
Veterans who enroll in TRICARE are barred from VA patient enrollment and from receiving VA-provided care while enrolled, which could restrict access to services some veterans rely on.
Dependents and family members cannot enroll in TRICARE solely because the veteran enrolls, potentially leaving families without coordinated or expanded coverage.
Shifting veterans from VA care to TRICARE may increase administrative complexity and costs during the transition, risking delays in care or fragmented care coordination.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows certain VA‑enrolled, service‑connected veterans to elect TRICARE Select, replaces VA care while enrolled, sets TRICARE cost‑sharing, and requires VA–DoD reimbursement and reporting.
Introduced January 9, 2025 by W. Greg Steube · Last progress January 9, 2025
Allows certain veterans with service‑connected disabilities who are enrolled in VA patient enrollment to choose TRICARE Select during the annual TRICARE open enrollment season. While enrolled in TRICARE Select these veterans cannot remain concurrently enrolled for VA medical care, their cost‑sharing follows TRICARE rules, and dependents do not get TRICARE enrollment just because the veteran enrolls. Requires the VA and the Department of Defense to set up a reimbursement agreement for enrollment costs, delays implementation for one year, requires regulations and a phased rollout through the VA Center for Innovation, and mandates regular implementation reports to Congress.